U.S. patent number 7,219,994 [Application Number 11/284,476] was granted by the patent office on 2007-05-22 for eyeglass with mp3 player.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Oakley, Inc.. Invention is credited to James H. Jannard, Jeffrey J. Julian.
United States Patent |
7,219,994 |
Jannard , et al. |
May 22, 2007 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Eyeglass with MP3 player
Abstract
Disclosed is an eyewear retention system, which may include any
of a variety of electronics, including telecommunications
receivers, transmitters, electronic storage devices, and head-up
display driving circuitry.
Inventors: |
Jannard; James H. (Eastsound,
WA), Julian; Jeffrey J. (Burbank, CA) |
Assignee: |
Oakley, Inc. (Foothill Ranch,
CA)
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Family
ID: |
24342121 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/284,476 |
Filed: |
November 22, 2005 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20060072067 A1 |
Apr 6, 2006 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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10004543 |
Dec 4, 2001 |
6966647 |
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09585593 |
Jun 2, 2000 |
6325507 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
351/158;
351/41 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02B
27/0176 (20130101); G02C 3/003 (20130101); G02C
11/10 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G02C
1/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;351/156,157,155,158,41
;2/452 ;381/187,183 ;445/351,350 ;704/225,270,200,2 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Other References
Eye-witness "brainwear" in 4 pages. cited by other .
Motorola Bluetooth Wireless Headset User Guide. cited by other
.
Motorola Consumer Catalog for Phone Accessories from "www.commerce.
motorola.com", web site visited on Jun. 13, 2002. cited by other
.
Hands-Free Profile (HFP). cited by other .
Headset Profile from Bluetooth Specification Version 1.1, Feb. 22,
2001, pp. 198-224. cited by other .
How Bluetooth Works from "www.howstuffworks.com", web site visited
on Jun. 11, 2002. cited by other .
Special Product review "ID Magazine", Aug. 2002, p. 179. cited by
other.
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Primary Examiner: Dang; Hung Xuan
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear,
LLP
Parent Case Text
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.
10/004,543 filed Dec. 4, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,966,647 which is
a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/585,593 filed Jun.
2, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,325,507 entitled Eyewear Retention
System Extending Across the Top of a Wearer's Head.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass, comprising: an eyeglass frame;
at least one lens supported by the eyeglass frame in an orientation
such that the at least one lens is in the path of the wearer's
field of view; an MP3 format memory device supported by the
eyeglass frame; a power supply, supported by the eyeglass frame; at
least a first earphone, the earphone being connected to the
eyeglass frame so as to allow the earphone to be directed toward at
least a first ear of a user when the user wears the eyeglass with
the at least one lens in the path of the wearer's field of view;
and retrieval circuitry configured to retrieve music from the MP3
format memory and to play the music through the first earphone.
2. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 1, wherein the MP3
format memory and the retrieval circuitry are disposed in the
eyeglass frame.
3. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 1, wherein the
retrieval circuitry is configured to play music retrieved from the
MP3 format memory device through the first earphone.
4. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 1, wherein the
eyeglass frame includes a nose bridge portion, the MP3 format
memory device, the retrieval circuitry, and the first earphone
being disposed rearwardly from the nose bridge portion.
5. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 1, wherein the
eyeglass frame includes a nose bridge portion, the MP3 format
memory device, the first earphone, and the power supply being
disposed rearwardly from the nose bridge portion so as to provide a
better balanced distribution of weight over a wearer's head.
6. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 5, further
comprising a second earphone supported by a second earphone
support, the second earphone and the second earphone support being
disposed rearwardly from the nose bridge portion.
7. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 1 additionally
comprising at least a second lens, the eyeglass frame being
configured to position the second lens in the wearer's field of
view.
8. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 1 additionally
comprising at least a second earphone and a second earphone support
extending downwardly from the eyeglass frame and being configured
to allow the second earphone to be directed toward the ear of the
wearer when the wearer wears the eyeglass frame on the wearer's
head with the first lens disposed within the wearer's field of
view.
9. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 1 additionally
10. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 1, wherein the
eyeglass frame is adapted to be carried by the head of a
wearer.
11. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 1, wherein the
eyeglass frame is adapted to extend over the top of the wearer's
head when worn. frame is adapted to extend over the top of the
wearer's head when worn. comprising at least a first earphone
support configured to support the first earphone in an orientation
in which the first earphone is facing toward the ear of a wearer
when the at least one lens is disposed in the field of view of the
wearer.
12. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass, comprising: an eyeglass frame;
at least a first lens; at least a first lens support portion of the
frame being configured to position the first lens in the path of
the wearer's field of view; means for storing music in an MP3
format supported by the eyeglass frame; a power supply, supported
by the eyeglass frame; at least a first earphone connected to the
eyeglass frame so as to allow the first earphone to be directed
toward a first ear of the wearer with the first lens disposed in
the field of view of the wearer; and means for retrieving music
from the means for storing and for playing the music through the
first earphone.
13. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 12, further
comprising means for evenly distributing a weight of the means for
storing, means for retrieving, and first earphone over a wearer's
head.
14. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 13, wherein the
means for evenly distributing comprises means for distributing the
weight of the means for storing, means for retrieving, and first
earphone over a top of the wearer's head.
15. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 12, wherein the
eyeglass frame is adapted to be carried by the head of a
wearer.
16. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 12, wherein the
eyeglass frame is adapted to extend over the top of the wearer's
head when worn.
17. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass, comprising: at least a first
lens; an eyeglass frame including a forward portion, the forward
portion being configured to position the first lens in the path of
the wearer's field of view; an MP3 format memory supported by the
eyeglass frame; a power supply supported by the eyeglass frame; at
least a first earphone; at least a first earphone support extending
from the eyeglass frame and configured to allow the first earphone
to be directed toward a first ear of the wearer; and retrieval
circuitry configured to retrieve music from the MP3 format
memory.
18. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 17, wherein the
frame further comprises first and second support members extending
rearwardly from the forward portion such that portions of each of
the first and second support members are disposed above at least
portions of a wearer's left and right ears when wearing the
eyeglass, wherein the MP3 format memory is supported directly by at
least one of the first and second support members.
19. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 17, wherein the MP3
format memory and the retrieval circuitry are disposed inside the
eyeglass frame.
20. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 17, wherein the
retrieval circuitry is configured to play music retrieved from the
MP3 format memory through the first earphone.
21. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 17, wherein the
forward portion of the eyeglass frame includes a nose bridge
portion, the MP3 format memory, the retrieval circuitry, and the
first earphone being disposed rearwardly from the nose bridge
portion.
22. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 21, further
comprising a second earphone supported by a second earphone
support, the second earphone and the second earphone support being
disposed rearwardly from the nose bridge portion, and wherein the
second earphone support is configured to allow the second earphone
to be directed toward the ear of the wearer when the wearer wears
the eyeglass on a head of the wearer with the first lens positioned
in the wearer's field of view.
23. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 17, wherein the
forward portion of the eyeglass frame includes a nose bridge
portion, the MP3 format memory, the first earphone, and the power
supply being disposed rearwardly from the nose bridge portion so as
to provide a better balanced distribution of weight over a wearer's
head.
24. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 17, wherein the
eyeglass frame is adapted to be carried by the head of a
wearer.
25. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 17, wherein the
eyeglass frame is adapted to extend over the top of the wearer's
head when worn.
26. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass, comprising: at least a first
lens; an eyeglass frame; a first lens support, supported by the
eyeglass frame and configured to hold the first lens in the path of
the wearer's field of view; means for storing music in an MP3
format supported by the eyeglass frame; a power supply, supported
by the eyeglass frame; at least a first earphone; at least a first
earphone support extending from the eyeglass frame, the first
earphone being connected to the first earphone support, wherein the
first earphone support is configured to allow the first earphone to
be directed towards a first ear of the wearer; and means for
retrieving music from the means for storing.
27. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 26, further
comprising means for evenly distributing a weight of the means for
storing, means for retrieving, first earphone support, and first
earphone over a wearer's head.
28. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 27, wherein the
means for evenly distributing comprises means for distributing the
weight of the means for storing, means for retrieving, first
earphone support, and first earphone over a top of the wearer's
head.
29. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 20, wherein the
eyeglass frame is adapted to be carried by the head of a
wearer.
30. An MP3 storage enabled eyeglass as in claim 20, wherein the
eyeglass frame is adapted to extend over the top of the wearer's
head when worn.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an over the head
retention system which avoids contact with the lateral sides of the
head while retaining eyewear in the wearer's field of view, and/or
which provides a platform for supporting any of a variety of
portable electronic devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
A wide variety of improvements have been made in recent years in
the eyewear field, particularly with respect to eyewear intended
for use in active sports or as fashion sunglasses. For example,
certain improvements have been incorporated into eyewear having a
unitary lens, such as the Blades.RTM. design, (Oakley, Inc.) the M
Frame.RTM. line, (Oakley, Inc.), and the Zero.RTM. line, also
produced by Oakley, Inc. These eyewear designs accomplish a variety
of functional advantages, such as maximizing interception of
peripheral light, reducing optical distortion and increasing the
wearer's comfort level, compared to previous active sport
eyewear.
Lens geometry has also been the subject of a variety of
innovations. The unitary lens of the Blades.RTM. eyewear
incorporates the cylindrical geometry disclosed, for example, in
U.S. Pat. No. 4,859,048, issued to Jannard. This geometry allows
the lens to closely conform to the wearer's face and intercept
light, wind, dust, etc. from directly in front of the wearer
(anterior direction) and peripherally (lateral direction). See also
U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,550 to Jannard (toroidal lens geometry).
More precise control over prismatic shift induced by rake (or
pantoscopic tilt) and wrap and other optical objectives in dual
lens eyeglass systems has been achieved through the technology
disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,648,832; 5,689,323;
5,969,789; and 6,010,218, all to Houston, et. al.
A variety of improvements in eyewear retention systems have also
been made in recent years. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No.
5,137,342 to Jannard et al. (tubular traction device for dual
earstem system); U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,001 to Jannard (earstem and
frame adapted to provide a medially directed bias throughout a
variety of head widths); U.S. Pat. No. 5,760,868 to Jannard, et. al
(unitary hingeless eyeglass frame) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,805,261 to
Houston, et al (biased eyeglass frames).
All of the foregoing retention system improvements relate generally
to dual earstem designs, in which earstems or temples extend
posteriorly along the sides of the wearer's head to achieve
eyeglass retention. Notwithstanding these improvements, the need
remains for new approaches to eyewear retention which would
eliminate lateral pressure on the temples and yet provide
comfortable eyewear retention.
In addition, there remains a need for a retention system which is
capable of supporting and distributing the weight from loads
attached to the retention system, such as eyeglass lenses,
telecommunications systems, heads-up display electronics, and any
of a variety of other audio and/or visual electronics
components.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an eyewear retention system. The system comprises an
eyewear support, having an elongate arcuate frame. The frame
comprises a frontal end and an occipital end, dimensioned to extend
across the top of the head of a wearer from the wearer's face to
the posterior of the head such as in the vicinity of the external
occipital protuberance. The support includes a first component and
a second component which are linked together in the frontal region
and spaced apart in between the frontal region and the occipital
region.
At least a portion of the first and second components are spaced
laterally apart by a distance within the range of from about 1/2
inch to about 6 inches. Preferably, at least a portion of the first
and second components are separated laterally by a distance within
the range of from about 1.5 inches to about 3.0 inches. In some
embodiments, the maximum separation between the first and second
components is within the range of from about 2 inches to about 3
inches, preferably at a location along the top of the head.
Preferably, at least one lens is provided at the frontal end of the
frame. Alternatively, two lenses are provided. The frontal end of
the support may be directly connected to the lenses or lens
orbitals, or is connected to the bridge on a frame including a
right and a left orbital.
The frame has an arc length from the frontal end to the occipital
end which is sufficient to extend from the lens or orbital to the
vicinity of the external occipital protuberance of an average human
wearer of a desired market segment (e.g. adult male, adult female,
child, Asian, European, etc.). The arc length from the frontal end
to the occipital end is generally within the range of from about 8
inches to about 18 inches, and, in most adult embodiments, within
the range of from about 14 inches to about 16 inches.
Preferably, the first and second components are connected together
at or anteriorly to the occipital end. The occipital end of the
frame may be further provided with a housing having electronics
therein. Contemplated electronics include digital or other storage
devices, receivers, transmitters, heads-up display driving
circuitry, power supplies and related components.
In one embodiment, the frame further comprises a nose pad for
resting on the nose of a wearer. The nose pad may be integrally
formed with the orbitals, or may be attached as a separately formed
nosepiece.
Generally, the arcuate frame extends posteriorly from the frontal
end throughout an arc of greater than about 180.degree.. A
reference point may be identified on the inside surface of the
frame at the greatest linear distance from a central point on the
nose pad. The frame preferably extends along an arc of at least
about 2 inches beyond the reference point to the occipital end.
Generally, the frame extends along an arc having a length within
the range of from about 2 inches to about 6 inches beyond the
reference point.
A linear distance between the midpoint on the nose pad and the
occipital end of the frame, when the frame is in an unstressed
configuration, is preferably at least about 3 inches. Generally,
the linear distance between the midpoint on the nose pad and the
occipital end of the frame is within the range of from about 5
inches to about 8 inches. The occipital end of the frame is
preferably positioned within the range of from about 1.5 inches to
about 3.5 inches anteriorly of a posterior tangent through the
reference point.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a method of stabilizing at least one lens in the
wearer's field of view. The method comprises the steps of providing
an eyeglass, having an arcuate frame for extending posteriorly
across the top of the head of a wearer. The frame is placed on the
head of the wearer, and stabilized by placing a first and a second
supports spaced laterally apart along at least a portion of the top
of the wearer's head.
Preferably, the first and second supports are separated laterally
by a distance within the range of from about 1/2 inch to about 6
inches. The width of each of the first and second supports is
within the range of from about 0.002 inches to about three
inches.
Further features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of
the detailed description of preferred embodiments which follows,
when considered together with the attached drawings and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front elevational schematic view of one embodiment of
an eyewear retention system in accordance with the present
invention.
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the eyewear retention system of FIG.
1.
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the eyewear retention system
of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a top plan view as in FIG. 2, showing an alternative
configuration.
FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of the eyewear retention system
of FIGS. 1 4 including electronic components.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a front elevational view
of one embodiment of an eyewear 10 including the support system 12
in accordance with the present invention. Although the eyewear
retention system of the present invention will be described below
primarily in the context of dual lens eyeglasses such as sunglasses
or water white lenses, the present invention is broadly applicable
to a wide variety of alternative eyewear, including unitary lens
eyewear, protective glasses or eyeshields, electronic heads-up
displays, or others as will be apparent to those of skill in the
art in view of the disclosure herein.
The support system 12 is adapted to support any of a variety of
portable electronic circuitry or devices which have previously been
difficult to incorporate into conventional eyewear retention
systems due to bulk, weight or other considerations. The
over-the-head configuration of the frame 12 of the present
invention allows distribution of load across the wearer's head, as
well as positioning of relatively bulky or heavy electronics along
the length of (e.g., inside) the support system 12 or at the
posterior aspect of the support system 12 such as at the occipital
end 34. This enables the eyewear retention system 10 to carry
electronic equipment in a streamlined fashion, out of the wearer's
field of view, and in a manner which distributes the weight across
the head of the wearer such that the eyewear tends not to shift
under the load, and uncomfortable pressure is not placed upon the
wearer's nose, ears or temple regions.
Among the electronics contemplated by the present inventor are
digital or other storage devices and retrieval circuitry such as
for retrieving music or other information from MP3 format memory or
other memory devices. Alternatively, any of a variety of receivers
and/or transmitters such as for music, telecommunications and
global positioning may also be carried by the support system 12.
Drivers and other electronics for driving heads-up displays, such
as liquid crystal displays or other miniature display technology
may also be carried by the support 12. Replaceable or rechargeable
power supplies and other electronics or mechanical components may
additionally be carried by the support system 12.
The support system 12 of the present invention may also be utilized
solely to support any of the foregoing or other electronics
components or systems, without also supporting one or more lenses
in the wearer's field of view. Thus, in any of the embodiments of
the support system 12 disclosed herein, the lenses and/or lens
orbitals may be omitted as will be apparent to those of skill in
the art in view of the disclosure herein.
The eyewear 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a support 12 in the
form an elongate arcuate frame having a frontal end for positioning
at the front of the wearer's head and an occipital or posterior end
for positioning on the posterior side of the wearer's head. The
support 12 in one embodiment extends throughout an arc dimensioned
to extend across the top of the head of the wearer generally from
the glabellar region above the nose to the external occipital
protuberance at the posterior of the head.
The arc length of the support 12 from the frontal end to the
occipital end is normally within the range of from about 8 inches
to about 18 inches, and commonly within the range of from about 14
inches to about 16 inches for most human adult heads. The specific
dimensions disclosed herein are for reference purposes, and any of
a variety of other specific dimensions may be selected as a
particular commercial product is optimized to suit a desired
population. For example, different size products may be produced
corresponding to average dimensions for the adult male, adult
female, and various children's or adolescent sizes. In addition,
adult male and female dimensions may differ for various Asian,
European and other market populations as will be apparent to those
of skill in the art.
The support 12 preferably comprises a first support component 28
and a second support component 30 configured to extend across the
top of the wearer's head to the occipital end 34. Generally, the
posterior ends of the first and second support components 28 and 30
join at or about the occipital end 34, which may engage the
external occipital protuberance. The anterior ends 29, 31 of the
first support component 28 and second support component 30 are
either connected directly together or connected together through a
portion of the eyeglass as will be discussed below.
In general, the first and second support components 28 and 30
desirably have a sufficient resilience or memory that they may be
hingeably or elastically deformed to fit onto the head of the
wearer and retain a bias in the direction of their original
configuration to provide secure attachment to the head. Further
aspects of the functional requirements of the support 12 will be
described below.
At least the head contacting surface of the first and second
support components 28 and 30 are separated laterally from each
other along at least a portion of the arc length of the support 12,
to impart lateral stability to the eyewear 10. The lateral
separation between the first support component 28 and second
support component 30 is at least at some point within the range of
from about 1/2 inch to about 6 inches, and, preferably, the lateral
separation is within the range of from about 1.5 inches to about 4
inches. In some embodiments, the separation is between about 2
inches and about 3 inches at at least some point along the top of
the head.
The width of each of the first support component 28 and second
support component 30 may be varied considerably, depending upon the
intended load to be carried by the support 12 as well as aesthetic
issues. For example, in a wire frame embodiment of the present
invention adapted to carry relative light loads (e.g., only light
weight or no electronic components), each of the first and second
supports 28 and 30 may be formed from wire or ribbon, having a
width in the range of from about 0.020 inches to about 0.25 inches
or greater. Molded or extruded polymeric components may have a
width in the range of from about 0.125 inches to about 4 inches or
greater. Preferably, a molded or extruded first or second support
component 28 or 30 has a width within the range of from about 0.25
inches to about 1.5 inches and, preferably, from about 0.25 inches
to about 0.75 inches unless a greater width is desired to enclose
electronic components along the support 12.
In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the first and second
support components 28 and 30 extend generally parallel to each
other from the anterior to the posterior of the wearer's head. The
first and second support components 28 and 30 may also be inclined
relative to each other, either such that they incline medially in a
posterior direction such that the separation is greater at the
anterior end than the posterior end, or inclined laterally in a
posterior direction such that they have a greater separation at the
posterior end than the anterior end. This later configuration may
be useful in an embodiment in which the support 12 is connected at
a medial portion of the eyeglass frame, such as at the bridge 24.
See FIG. 4.
The length of the separation between the first and second support
components 28 and 30 in the illustrated embodiment extends all the
way from the anterior to the posterior or the head. This length may
be shortened considerably from anterior to posterior. The front to
back length of the separation will generally be in excess of about
20% of the overall front to back dimension of the eyewear, and,
preferably, in excess of about 50% of the overall front to back
dimension of the eyewear to optimize the stability feature of the
present invention. The position of the greatest separation is
preferably on the top of the wearer's head, preferably centered
midway between the front and back or slightly anterior to the
midpoint between the front and back of the eyewear.
In one embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 4, the first and second
support components 28 and 30 are joined together at about the top
of the wearer's forehead and a single extension 33 extends downward
across the wearer's forehead for connection to the bridge region 24
of a frame 18. Any of a variety of other configurations can be
devised, which achieve the load distribution and balance of the
present invention.
The eyewear 10 preferably supports at least one lens in the
wearer's field of view. In the illustrated embodiment, the support
12 carries a first lens 14 and a second lens 16. First lens 14 is
supported in a first orbital 20, and second lens 16 is supported in
a second orbital 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the first and
second orbitals 20 and 22 are connected by a bridge 24, which
together make up a frame 18. Bridge 24 cooperates with first and
second orbitals 20 and 22 to define a nose opening 26. Nose opening
26 may be provided with integrally formed nose pads, or a removable
nosepiece or pads as will be apparent to those of skill in the art
in view of the disclosure herein.
The support 12 may be connected to the frame 18 in any of a variety
of ways. In the illustrated embodiment, the first component 28 is
connected to the first orbital 20 and the second support component
30 is connected to the second orbital 22. See FIGS. 1 and 2.
Alternatively, the first and second support components 28 and 30
may be connected to the bridge 24. In another embodiment, the first
and second support components 28 and 30 merge together into a
single element 33 which extends across at least a portion of the
glabellar region and forehead before connection to the bridge 24 or
other portion of frame 18. See FIG. 4.
Referring to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a side elevational view
of the eyewear 10 of FIG. 1. As seen therein, the first and second
support components 28 and 30 are concave inferiorly and anteriorly
(as worn) throughout an elongate arc adapted to engage the external
occipital protuberance at the occipital end 34, and extend across
the top of the wearer's head to support the frame 18 in front of
the wearer's field of view. A horizontal reference line 36 is
illustrated as extending between a first contact point 38 on the
mechanical center of a nose pad 40, and a second contact point 42
on the interior surface of the support 12 at the greatest linear
distance from the first contact point 38. Although the reference
line 36 is termed "horizontal" for convenience, it bears no
necessary relationship to true horizontal.
The relaxed linear distance between the first contact point 38 and
second contact point 42 is generally within the range of from about
5 inches or less for a small size or highly elastic embodiment to
about 8 inches. In one embodiment, the linear distance between the
first contact point 38 and the second contact point 42 is within
the range of from about 7 inches to 73/4 inches.
A posterior tangent 46 is illustrated through the second contact
point 42 at the inside surface of the support 12. An occipital
tangent 48 extends in parallel to the posterior tangent 46, through
the occipital end 34. Occipital tangent 48 forms an intersection 50
with the horizontal reference line 36.
Generally, the linear distance along horizontal reference line 36
between the occipital tangent 48 and posterior tangent 46 is
greater than about 0.5 or 1 inch, and, preferably, within the range
of from about 11/2 inches to about 3 inches. In general, the
distance between intersection 50 and second contact point 42 is
determined by the desired arc length of the first and second
support components 28 to allow the occipital end 34 to fit securely
on the posterior aspect of the wearer's head. In one embodiment,
the arc length is designed to be sufficient in an average male
adult (as exemplified by the 50.sup.th percentile male Alderson's
head form) to position the occipital end 34 on the posterior and
inferior aspect of the external occipital protuberance, to provide
the desired retention as will be apparent in view of the disclosure
herein.
The linear distance between the intersection 50 and the occipital
end 34 is generally within the range of from about 11/2 to about 4
inches, and preferably, within the range of from about 21/2 inches
to about 31/2 inches.
The linear distance from the first contact point 38 to the
occipital end 34 in the unstressed configuration is generally
within the range of from about 3 inches to about 8 inches, and
typically within the range of from about 5 inches to about 7 inches
for a human adult. In general, the resting distance between first
contact point 38 and occipital end 34 may be varied considerably,
depending upon the range of motion of the occipital end 34 with
respect to the frame 18, and the elasticity or memory of the
support 12.
Preferably, the support 12 may be flexed throughout a wide range to
accommodate a wide variety of head dimensions, and still retain a
bias in the direction of its original configuration, to impart a
retention bias on the wearer's head. The elasticity of the support
12 may be derived from the materials and cross-sectional
thicknesses and design of the first and second components 28 and
30. Alternatively, the first and second support components 28 and
30 may be provided with one or more spring elements such as a
resilient wire or ribbon extending therethrough, to increase the
closing bias on the support 12. Any of a variety of spring
materials may be positioned on or within the first and second
components 28 and 30, such as spring steel, Nitinol, or others
which may be selected through routine experimentation by those of
skill in the art.
One or more biased hinges may also be provided along the length of
the support 12, such as spring loaded hinges, to provide a radially
inwardly directed bias on the occipital end 34 of the support 12.
See, e.g., the biased hinges disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,805,261
to Houston et al., the disclosure of which in incorporated in its
entirety herein by reference, in which a compressible material is
positioned between two adjacent components to bias the orientation
of the two components.
The support 12 described above may be further modified to
accommodate a variety of head dimensions by enabling an elongation
of the support 12 along its arcuate length. For example, one or
more joints 52 may be provided in which a first component 54 and a
second component 56 may be moved towards each other or away from
each other along the arc of the support 12. Telescoping joints may
be accomplished in any of a variety of ways, such as by providing a
projection on a first of two adjacent components which is slideably
received within a corresponding aperture on the second of the two
adjacent components. The wearer may adjust the relative position of
two adjacent components of the support 12 to optimize the fit. The
motion between two adjacent components such as 54 and 56 may be
resisted such as by a friction fit, or by any of a variety of
locking structures. In this manner, the actual arc length of the
support 12 may be shortened or lengthened, to enable adjustment of
the eyewear 10 so that the nose pad 40 is appropriately placed on
the wearer's nose and the occipital end 34 is spaced sufficiently
far along the arc of the support 12 to provide sufficient
retention.
The eyewear 10 may be manufactured in accordance with any of a
variety of techniques, which will be understood by those of skill
in the art in view of the disclosure herein. For example, the first
and second support components 28 and 30 may be injection molded
into their final desired configuration. The orbitals 20 and 22 and
bridge 24, where used, may be integrally molded with the first and
second support components 28 and 30. Alternatively, the support 12
may be separately formed from the frame 18, and secured together as
a secondary manufacturing step.
In an embodiment which includes electronic components, additional
functional attachments may be provided as desired anywhere along
the length of the frame, lenses or orbitals. For example, earphones
may be directed towards the wearer's ear from one or two earphone
supports extending rearwardly from the front of the eyeglass, down
from the top of the support 12 or forwardly from the rear of the
support 12. Similarly, one or more microphones may be directed at
the wearer's mouth from one or two microphone supports connected to
the orbitals or other portion of the frame.
Although the present invention has been described in terms of
certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments will become
apparent to those of skill in the art with reference to the
disclosure contained herein. Accordingly, the scope of the present
invention is intended not to be limited by the disclosed
embodiments, but to be coextensive with the full scope of the
attached claims.
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